Kateřina Kněžíková, Corinne Winters, Nicky Spence, & Markéta Cukrová Star in Janáček Brno International Opera & Music Festival 2026
By Afton MarkayThe Janáček Brno International Opera and Music Festival announces its 2026 and 10th anniversary season.
This article only includes operatic works.
Tomáš Hanus conducts Janáček’s “Destiny,” with Robert Carsen directing Alžběta Poláčková, Eliška Gattringerová, Vít Nosek, Jan Šťáva, Lukáš Bařákthe, and the Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno ensemble.
Performance Date: Oct. 13, 2026 (Janáček Theatre)
Marko Ivanović conducts Teatro Real, Madrid and Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin’s co-production “The Excursions of Mr Brouček,” starring Nicky Spence, Daniel Matoušek, David Szendiuch, Jana Sibera, and Jan Šťáva. They are joined by e Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno ensemble and directed by Robert Carsen.
Performance Date: Oct. 15, 2026 (Janáček Theatre)
Tenor Aleš Briscein, mezzo-soprano Michaela Zajmi, and three female vocalists (to be announced) give a concert of works by Janáček and Kryštof Mařatka. They are joined by pianist Kryštof Mařatka, clarinetist Yan Mařatka, and violist Karine Lethiec.
Performance Date: Oct. 16, 2026 (Reduta Theatre – Mozart Hall)
Mezzo-soprano Markéta Cukrová and the Bennewitz Quartet perform works by Dvořák.
Performance Date: Oct. 17, 2026 (Villa Tugendhat)
Choirmaster Valeria Maťašová leads the Brno Children’s Choir in a concert featuring works by Luboš Fišer, Miloslav Kabeláč, Janáček, and Bohuslav Martinů.
Performance Date: Oct. 18, 2026 (Reduta Theatre – Mozart Hall)
Soprano Corinne Winters gives a recital featuring music by Dvořák, Vítězslava Kaprálová, Janáček, and Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Winters is joined by pianist David Mareček and cellist Lukáš Mareček.
Performance Date: Oct. 18, 2026 (Mahen Theatre)
Bass Richard Novák performs a special concert celebrating his 95th birthday with pianist Ondrej Olos.
Performance Date: Oct. 20, 2026 (Reduta Theatre – Mozart Hall)
The Opera Studio and Orchestra of the Brno Conservatory, in collaboration with the Janáček Brno 2026 Festival, present the premiere production of Bohuslav Martinů’s “Theatre Behind the Gate,” directed by Hana Mikolášková. Filip Urban conducts.
Performance Dates: Oct. 22 & 23, 2026 (Mahen Theatre)
Baritone Adam Plachetka performs Mahler’s “Songs of a Wayfarer” with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Tomáš Netopil.
Performance Date: Oct. 23, 2026 (Janáček Theatre)
Choirmaster Vladimír Maňas leads Ensemble Versus in a concert featuring works by Palestrina, Orlando di Lasso, Tomás Luis de Victoria, Jacobus Handl Gallus, and Giovanni Croce.
Performance Date: Oct. 24, 2026 (Augustinian Abbey Brno – Refectory)
Kateřina Kněžíková, Adéla Plachetková, and Václava Krejčí Housková star in Janáček’s “The Cunning Little Vixen” directed by Jiří Heřman. Tomáš Netopil conducts the Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno and ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Performance Dates: Oct. 24 & 25, 2026 (Janáček Theatre)
The 1887 version of Janáček’s “Šárka” is directed by Jiří Heřman. Daniel Kfelíř, Nicky Spence, Eliška Gattringerová, and Ondřej Koplík make up the cast. Dominik Pernica conducts and Julius Drake accompanies at the piano.
Performance Dates: Oct. 26 & 28, Nov. 15 & 16, 2026 (Besední dům)
Ensemble Versus perform a concert throughout the Žlutý kopec Water Tanks, with choirmasters Vladimír Maňas, Zuzana Badárová, and director Kateřina Křivánková.
Performance Date: Oct. 29, 2026
Ondrej Olos conducts Janáček’s “Katya Kabanova” with Kateřina Kněžíková in the title role. Peter Berger, Aleš Briscein, Václava Krejčí Housková, Jan Šťáva, and others join the cast. Robert Carsen directs.
Performance Dates: Oct. 30 & 31, 2026 (Janáček Theatre)
Mezzo-soprano Bella Adamova and pianist Ahmad Hedar perform a recital featuring works by Debussy, Shostakovich, Reynaldo Hahn, Luciano Berio, Britten, and Manuel de Falla.
Performance Date: Nov. 1, 2026 (Villa Tugendhat)
Ondrej Olos conducts the premiere of Janáček’s “The Beginning of a Romance” starring Adriana Banásová, Daniela Straková, Alžběta Symerská, Vladimír John, Raman Hasymau, Daniel Kfelíř, Jiří Sulženko, and Josef Škarka. They are joined by the Brno University of Technology Choir VOX IUVENALIS and Czech Virtuosi. Marek Řihák directs the Hausopera co-production.
Performance Dates: Nov. 3, 4, 12, & 13 2026 (Atrium of the BUT Rectorate)
Jakub Hrůša conducts Janáček’s “Jenůfa,” with Corinne Winters, Eliška Weissová, Jitka Zerhauová, Nicky Spence, and Thomas Atkins, with the Bamberg Symphony. Martin Glaser directs.
Performance Dates: Nov. 5 & 7, 2026 (Janáček Theatre)
Janáček’s “The Makropulos Affair” is conducted by Robert Kružík. Jana Šrejma Kačírková, Aleš Briscein, Petr Levíček, Zdislava Bočková, and Svatopluk Sem are among the cast. David Radok directs.
Performance Dates: Nov. 8 & 15, 2026 (Janáček Theatre)
The Chamber Opera of the Faculty of Music, Janáček Academy of Performing Arts presents the world premiere of “OH HUMANITY!” by Eunika Pechánková and Bára Viceníková, and “HERE IS THE ISLAND” by Tereza Konzalová and Richard L. Kramár.
Performance Dates: Nov. 10 & 14, 2026 (Theatre on Orlí Street)
A concert performance of the 1925 version of Janáček’s “Šárka” stars Mária Porubčinová, Aleš Briscein, Svatopluk Sem, and Daniel Matoušek. Christopher Ward conducts the Choir and Orchestra of the National Theatre Prague.
Performance Date: Nov. 11, 2026 (Mahen Theatre)
Krzysztof Warlikowski’s production of Janáček’s “Katya Kabanova” stars Dmitry Cheblykov, Pavel Černoch, Violeta Urmana, Ya-Chung Huang, Corinne Winters, and Eirik Grøtvedt among others. Robert Jindra conducts the Bayerische Staatsoper ensemble.
Performance Date: Nov. 13, 2026 (Mahen Theatre)
Collegium Vocale 1704 and Collegium 1704 are led by Václav Luks in a concert of works by Palestrina, Pavel Křížkovský, Janáček, and J.S.Bach.
Performance Date: Nov. 14, 2026 (Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
The Festival closes with Janáček’s “From the Dead House” performed with the composer’s “Glagolitic Mass” as a continuation of the opera. Among the cast is Roman Hoz, Štefan Margita, Peter Berger, Károly Szemerédy, Jan Šťáva, and Romana Kružíková. Jiří Heřman directs and Robert Kružík conducts the Janáček Opera of the National Theatre Brno ensemble.
Performance Date: Nov. 17, 2026 (Janáček Theatre)
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